The Audi Festival of German Films is one of the highlights of my year — and I’m not just saying that because I’m dating a German guy. We love our film festivals at The Plus Ones, and the German Film Festival has some of the strongest programming. The special events are outta this world, and the films run the gamut from historical costume drama to comedy.

Here are my top five must-sees at this year’s fest:

1. Beloved Sisters/Die geliebten Schwestern (Opening Night – 14 May) – The Brits don’t have the monopoly on costume dramas, as this movie proves. The plot revolves around a ménage à trois with a young Friedrich Schiller and is billed as ‘costume spectacular’. Opening nights are always the best bang for the buck: go for the film, stay for the afterparty with food and drink.
2. The Adventures of Huck Finn/Die Abenteuer des Huck Finn (26 May) – I’m interested in seeing a German take on the American classic by Mark Twain. The plot follows erstwhile schoolboy Huck Finn as he sails down the Mississippi with runaway slave Jim in the 1800s. Plus there’s a Q&A with the film’s screenwriter.
3. The Lies of the Victors/Die Lügen der Sieger (30 May) – Everyone loves a good thriller these days (see: Gone Girl, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc.). This tale follows a political journalist and his intern researching two entirely different stories — that end up intersecting. Together, they uncover behind-the-scene political machinations. Sounds a little close to real life.
4. Ms. Mueller Must Go/Frau Müller muss weg (29 May) – This film is actually adapted from a prize-winning play, and the screenplay won at 2014’s Bavarian Film Festival. It follows teacher Mrs. Müller on parent-teacher conference day as the parents attempt to oust her from the school. But does she really go?
5. The Circle/Der Kries (Swiss Soiree – 24 May) – The Swiss pull out all the stops at their annual party, with Swiss food (um, cheese, anyone) paired with a Swiss film. This year’s half doco/half drama follows Ernst and Röbi, a real-life gay couple who were activists in the 1950s. They’re still around and in love as much as ever. Aww.

This is a jumping-off point for the two weeks of amazing films. The website is a bit basic, so I recommend picking up one of the paper guides that are all over town. Have a flip through and get inspired to see a German film or two. And like I keep saying — the special events are totally worth it.

– Theresa

The Audi Festival of German Films runs 14-31 May 2015 at Kino Cinemas and Palace Cinema Como.
The venues are accessible.

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Disclosure: The Plus Ones were invited guests of Melinda Brown PR.